Lavatory



March 30, 1954 R. -B. KNOWLES LAVATORY Filed July 21, 1951" INVENTOR. 05 527 .3- K/VOWAE. S

Ar roe/vex Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAVATORY Robert B. Knowles, Maywood, Calif. Application July 21, 1951, Serial No. 237,944

4 Claims. (01. 4-166) This invention relates to an improved lavatory and more particularly to a lavatory for general application wherein the flow of hot and cold water is controlled by novel means projecting forwardly of a wash basin and actuated prefer- ;bly by body pressure from the vicinity of the Prior proposed lavatories have included a single fixture for flow of water into a wash basin, the Water flow being regulated by concealed valve means actuated by various parts of the body. For example, a surgical type lavatory has been provided in which the valve means are operated by foot pedals, the top of the lavatory being free from any fixtures except one for discharge of water. Usually in such surgical type lavatories, rate of flow of water is not selectively controlled and is preset to a predetermined flow. Likewise, a preset mixing valve may be employed to furnish water at a specific temperature. The use of foot pedals is objectionable because of the collection of dirt and foreign matter about such pedals and the difiiculty of cleaning around such pedals.

Other proposed lavatories having water flow controlled by valve means actuated by parts of the body other than hands have included industrial fountains wherein a valve means may be actuated by response to knee or leg pressure against a lever means. lavatories, the industrial fountain usually provides for a predetermined rate of flow of water and a preset temperature of water.

The above type lavatories may be suitable for their specific purposes, however, they are not suitable for general application, such as in a home or where lavatories are required wherein rate of flow and temperature may be selectively adjusted by an individual.

The improved lavatory contemplated by this invention is one which is readily adaptable for application in a home or other location where individual selection of the rate of flow and temperature of water to be used is desired. This invention contemplates an improved lavatory' having a single centrally disposed faucet or water outlet fixture at the rear of the wash basin and wherein the usual manually operated faucet valves disposed on opposite sides of the water outlet are eliminated. The valve means controlling water fiow in this lavatory are concealed from view and are selectively operated by novel regulating means extending forwardly of and across a front wall of the wash basin. The regulating means provides for selectively mixing the As in the surgical type hot and cold water so as to obtain a desired temperature and rate of flow. I

The primary object of this invention, there.- fore, is to design and provide an improved lavatory incorporating advantages of the surgical and industrial lavatories mentioned above and suitable for general application in the home or elsewhere. An object of this invention is to design and provide an improved lavatory wherein concealed valve means for controlling flow of hot and cold' water are actuated in a novel manner.

Still another object of this invention is to designand provide an improved lavatory wherein means are provided for holding the valve means regulating flow of water in selected position for a desired constant rate of flow of water and temperature of water.

A further object of this invention is to design and provide an improved lavatory wherein the valve means may be selectively actuated by body pressure against valve actuating member projecting forwardly of the front wall of the basin.

A further object of this invention is to design an improved lavatory which may be simply and efiiciently constructed and which is simple and effective in operation.

Generally speaking this invention contemplates a lavatory having a valve means for controlling and regulating the how and temperature of water provided at the rear and adjacent to side walls of the basin. Means for actuating the valve means include a transverse slot in the front wall of the basin extending thereacross for slidably accommodating a horizontal, elo'ngated, body pressure bar, each end of which is connected to a respective valve means by a connecting rod for operation thereof. The bar projects forwardly of the front wall of the basin and is movable by body pressure selectively applied thereagainst for sliding the bar inwardly in various angularly disposed positions for selective operation of the valvemeans.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lavatory em bodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the lavatory shown in Fig. 1 taken in the plane. indicated by the line 11-11? of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the lavatory shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken in the plane indicated by line III-III of Fig. 'l.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged sectional view of an as sembly valve means which may be employed in this invention.

Fig. is an enlarged sectional view of a slip clutch means which may be employed in this invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryview in section, taken from a horizontal plane, of a modification of this invention.

In Fig. 1 a lavatory embodying this invention, generally indicated at It, may comprise a suitable wash basin supported by a pair of vertical legs l2 and secured against a wall by any suitable means such as screws |3 (Fig. 2). The wash basin includes a central bowl l4 having a drain outlet l5 connected to a drain pipe l6. The bowl I4 is encircled by a fiat top apron H. A single inwardly extending fixture I8 of wellknown make extends upwardly and over the bowl M from the rear portion of apron H.

The front wall of basin I is provided with an elongated transverse horizontal slot l8 extending almost entirely thereacross. The slot l9 may be defined with inwardly extending parallel lip portions formed integral with the front wall.

Hot and cold water pipes or conduits 2| and 22 respectively lead to a vertical riser 23 for flow of water to said fixture l8. Each conduit 2| and 22 'is provided with a valve means 24 generally located opposite to ends of slot l9. Each valve means 24 may be of any well-known manufacture for regulating flow of water passing therethrough. Preferably, valve means 24 is of a spring biased, self-closing, quick acting type, an exemplary illustration of which is indicated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 4 valve means 24 may comprise a valve housing 25 having an inlet port 26 internally threaded for connection to a water conduit such as 2| and 22. An outlet port 21 is likewise internally threaded for connection to a conduit 28 leading to riser 23. The valve housing 25 provides a tapered internal valve seat 29 for cooperation with a tapered valve head 30 of suitable composition material. The valve head 30 is carried at one end of a valve stem 3| which slidably extends through an oppositely disposed aligned opening 32 in the valve housing, said opening 32 being suitably sealed as by a packing 33 and a sleeve bushing 34. A coil spring 35 encircles valve stem 3| outwardly of bushing 34 and extends between the outer annular face of bushing 34 and a collar 36 secured as by a set screw adjacent to the end of valve stem 3|.

Means for actuating each valve means 24 comprises a body pressure bar 38 slidably accommodated within slot 9 in the front wall of the basin and projecting forwardly thereof for selective rearwardly directed movement upon pressure contact by the body of a person using the lavatory. Each end of bar 38 is pivotally connected as at 39 to one end of a rearwardly extending rod 40 connected by any suitable means such as a coupling sleeve to the end of the valve stem 3|. The rod 40 may be supported by a depending guide bracket 4| carried by the basin l.

It will be readily apparent that body pressure against the bar 38 at one end thereof, for example, will be transmitted to the valve stem by rod 40 and will cause stem 3| to move inwardly away from its valve seat 29 and permit flow of water into said fixture. Likewise, pressure at the other end of bar 38 will cause opening of the other valve means 24 and permit fiow of water therethrough to the fixture l8. Simultaneous body pressure at each end of bar 38 will actuate both valve means 24, while variance in pressure at each end of the bar will cause angular disposition of bar 38 and selective opening of valve means 24 for desired rate of flow and temperature of Water.

Means for holding the pressure bar in selected position after adjustment thereof to selected fiow and temperature of water may comprise an exemplary clutch means generally indicated at 45, Fig. 5 associated with each connecting rod 40, said clutch means preferably being of a disengageable slip type. Each clutch means includes a casing 46 carried by the basin through a bracket connection 41 and a bottom cover 48 providing access to clutch mechanism within the casing. The casing 46 is provided with a pair of aligned openings 49 through which passes a connecting rod 40 in a relatively loose fit. The connecting rod 48 may be provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced collars 50 and a threaded or toothed section 5| extending therebetween. The toothed portion 5| is arranged for releasable engagement with edges of a diagonally inclined port 52 formed in a clutch plate 53 pivotally carried by the casing 46 at 54. A spring 55 connected to the casing and to the plate biases said plate into cooperative engagement with the toothed section 5|. The lower edge of plate 53 may ride upon the upper surface a leaf-type spring 56 carried by the bottom'cover 48 as at 51, said spring having a stop 58 for cooperative engagement with the lower edge of plate 53 to maintain the plate in release position whenshutting oif the water.

When the bar 38 is urged inwardly by pressure thereagainst for opening of valve means 24, connecting rod 40 is free to move rearwardly through port 52 in the clutch plate 53 by slipping of the edges of the port along the toothed section. When initial pressure against the bumper bar is released, as when a selected rate of flow of water has been secured, the spring 55 biases the plate 53 into holding engagement with rod 48. Thus the clutch means 45 maintains valve means 24 in selected open position.

When it is desired to shut off flow of water, bar 38 is urged further rearwardly until the forward collar 50 abuts against the clutch plate 53 and carries said clutch plate 53 over the stop 58, the stop 58 thus holding the clutch plate in virtually vertical position and permitting connecting rod 48 to move forwardly until the valve means 24 is closed, said valve means being springbiased into closed position as described above. As the valve closes the rearmost collar 58 strikes clutch plate 53 and carries said plate forwardly over stop 58 so that the clutch plate will be in operative position for holding engagement with the connecting rod when it is again urged rearwardly to open valve means 24,

It will be noted by this arrangement of clutch means, connecting rod, and valve means that any desired selected rate of fiow and temperature of water may be quickly and easily secured by body pressure against bar 38. Such holding engagement of the clutch means permits a user to back away from the basin as when he is washing his face so that constant pressure need not be applied to the bar 38 to maintain fiow of water.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the above-described improved lavatory is one which is capable of general application and not limited to specific applications as prior proposed lavatories. Such a lavatory as described above may be actuated by pressure applied against the bumper bar by arms, hands or other portions of the body. Preferably however it is designed for pressure from the vicinity of the hip so that hands which may be dirty need not contact the bumper bar in order to fill the wash basin.

Obviously the amount of travel of the connecting rod to operate the valve means 2!! may be varied so that a selective degree of control is readily provided of the valve means. In addition, 1

the spring means employed to bias the valve means into closed position may be counterbalanced by other suitable springs so as to secure a desired ease of operation.

In Fig. 6 a modification of this invention is shown and differs from the first embodiment in that the valve means is located behind the front Wall of the lavatory and the provision of a transverse slot in the front wall is eliminated.

In this modification the valve means 60 is located behind and adjacent to the front wall of the lavatory and includes an inlet port 6|, an outlet port 62, an orifice 63 connecting said ports and having a tapered valve seat 64 cooperable with a correspondingly tapered valve head 65. The head 55 is carried by a valve stem 66 extending forwardly through an opening 6'! in the front wall 68 of the lavatory 69. The valve head 65 is biased to closed position by spring 19 having one end seated against nut 1|. inlet port also tends to close said valve.

The inlet port BI is connected by a conduit 12 to a hot or cold water supply source, conduit 12 being preferably of flexible yieldable tubing so as to be bent around curved portions of the Wash basin. Outlet port 52 is likewise connected to a flexible conduit 73 which leads to a single outlet fixture (not shown) as in the previous modification.

The forward end of the valve stem 66 carries a 1 ball '14 which is received Within a socket carried on the rear face of a horizontal pressure bar 7'6 for pivotal connection thereto adjacent one end. A similar arrangement of valve means and pressure bar is provided at the other end of the bar.

The pressure bar is thus supported forwardly of the front wall of the lavatory in a horizontal zone and pressure selectively distributed thereagainst will actuate said valve means for providing desired flow of water into the basin. Operation is virtually the same as that previously described.

If desired, slip clutch means as exemplary described in the previous embodiment may be provided for cooperation with the valve stem 66 to releasably hold the pressure bar in selected position.

All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In a lavatory provided with a single outlet fixture and hot and cold water conduits connected to said fixture, the provision of: a basin having a front wall provided with a transverse horizontal slot extending thereacross and defined inwardly by spaced parallel lip portions; valve means in said conduits positioned opposite to ends of said slot, each valve means having an extension; and means for selectively actuating said valve means including a single rigid elongated horizontal pressure bar slidably accommodated within said slot and guided between said lip portions, said bar projecting forwardly into a zone in front of said front wall; a rod pivotally connected to each Pressure of fluid in end of said bar and connected to the extension of a valve means for selectively opening each valve means by displacement rearwardly of said bar in a horizontal plane; spring means carried by each rod for biasing said valve means into closed position; and clutch means carried by the basin and cooperable with each rod for disengageably holding each rod in selected position in response to bodily pressure applied to said bar.

2. In a lavatory provided with a single outlet fixture and hot and cold water conduits connected to said fixture, the provision of: a basin having a front wall provided with a transverse horizontal slot extending thereacross; valve means in said conduits positioned opposite to ends of said slot; and means for selectively actuating said valve means including a single elongated horizontal pressure bar slidably guided in said slot and projecting forwardly of said front wall; a rod pivotally connected to each end of said bar for selectively opening each valve means by displacement of said bar rearwardly in a horizontal plane.

3. In a lavatory provided with a single outlet fixture and a pair of conduits connected to said fixture, the provision of: a front wall on the lavatory having a transverse slot extendins virtually thereacross; a valve means in each conduit biased to closed position; and. means for selectively actuating said valve means from a zone forwardly of the front wall of the lavatory; said actuating means comprising a single rigid transversely extending pressure bar normally positioned forwardly of and parallel to the front wall of the lavatory and slidably engageable in said slot; rearwardly extending rods pivotally connected to said bar and connected to said valve means; and releasable clutch means on each rod for maintaining said valve means in selected open position in response to pressure applied to said bar.

4. In a lavatory provided with a single outlet fixture and a pair of conduits connected to said fixture, the provision of a front wall on the lavatory having spaced rearwardly extending lips defining a transverse guide slot extending virtually thereacross; a valve means in each conduit biased to closed position; and means for selectively actuating said valve means from a zone forwardly of the front wall of the lavatory; said actuating means comprising a single rigid transversely extending pressure bar normally positioned forwardly of and parallel to the front wall of the lavatory and slidable in said slot and between said lips; and means pivotally connecting ends of said bar with said valve means.

ROBERT B. KNOWLES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,726 Newton May 14, 1907 1,234,643 Doyle et al July 24, 1917 1,329,209 Riccio Jan. 27, 1920 1,460,931 Yeiser et a1 July 3, 1923 1,853,154 Snyder Apr. 12, 1932 2,071,749 Knight Feb. 23, 1937 2,370,245 Jacobsson et a1. Feb. 27, 1945 2,482,960 Benson Sept. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,835 Great Britain June 3, 1907 

